GAME OF THRONES

FLASHBACK SCENE - "LORD OF WINTERFELL"

The courtyard is covered in a foot or more of snow. In the protected spaces under roofs and walkways, servants are busy at their work.

A snowball flies through the air and splatters itself against a snow fort. A head of curly brown hair pops up from inside the fort. It's TINY ROBB STARK. He's about five or six years old. He brandishes a snowball of his own.

TINY ROBB

Who goes there!

TINY JON SNOW appears, brandishing another snowball.

TINY JON

It is I, the King Beyond the Wall! Come to take back my land!

Robb spits scornfully in the snow, though he doesn't quite do it right and ends up with spittle on his chin.

TINY ROBB

We know no king but the King in the North, and his name is me!

Robb throws his snowball, which Jon dodges. A flurry of snowballs criss-cross the air as they laugh and duck and dodge.

TINY ROBB

Die wildling scum!

Robb gets Jon with a snowball to the chest.

TINY JON

Oh, I am struck! I am fallen!

Jon does a really over-the-top death scene while Robb waits impatiently for him to finish. Jon staggers about, then finally collapses dramatically in the snow just outside the front wall of the snow fort. Robb looks down at him.

TINY ROBB

Now get up and do it again.

No answer.

TINY ROBB

(whining)

Come on, Jon.

2.

TINY JON

I can't hear you. I'm dead.

Robb sighs gustily, grabs a shovel, and pours a load of loose snow over Jon's face. Jon yelps and comes up off the ground with a jerk, spitting snow.

TINY JON

(annoyed)

Robb! You're not allowed to do that!

TINY ROBB

I'm Lord of Winterfell. I can do what I want.

TINY JON

(shaking snow out of his hair)

You're not allowed to kill me after I'm already dead.

CATELYN STARK comes out into the courtyard. She looks at Robb in his snow castle and smiles fondly.

TINY ROBB

Go back and do it again, Jon.

TINY JON

No, it's my turn now.

TINY ROBB

Your turn for what?

TINY JON

I'm Lord of Winterfell. You be the wildling king. Come on.

TINY ROBB

You can't be Lord of Winterfell, you're a bastard. My mother says you can't ever be Lord of Winterfell.

Jon stops and stares at him. Robb's grin fades a bit when he sees Jon's expression.

At the edge of the courtyard, Catelyn narrows her eyes. She takes one step toward the boys, watching them closely.

There's a tense silence, then:

TINY JON

I can and I will.

3.

He tackles Robb onto his back, knocking down part of the snow fort in the process. They tussle in the snow.

TINY ROBB

Jon, stop it! You're ruining the castle.

TINY JON

Say it! Say I'm Lord of Winterfell.

TINY ROBB

Alright!

Catelyn appears on the scene.

CATELYN

Boys! Stop this, stop your fighting.

She grabs one boy in each hand by their coats and pulls them apart, still swinging at each other. Then she lets Robb go and grabs the collar of Jon's coat in both hands.

CATELYN

What did you say? Just now.

Jon stares up at her, scared.

TINY JON

Nothing, I...

She gives his coat a jerk, causing him to gasp in fright.

CATELYN

What. Did. You. Say!

Robb gives Jon a worried look and tugs at his mother's arm.

TINY ROBB

Mother, stop it. We were just playing.

Catelyn ignores Robb. Jon flinches with each sentence as Catelyn lays into him.

CATELYN

Never say that again. Do you hear me? Never say it again. Never think it again. Or I'll throw you out for the wolves.

TINY ROBB

Mother!

4.

Jon wrenches free of her grasp and starts backing away. His lip is trembling, and his breath is coming in small frightened gasps.

TINY ROBB

(pained)

Jon, come back. I'll let you be Lord of Winterfell, I promise.

CATELYN

Robb, no!

TINY JON

(small voice)

I don't want to play anymore.

He turns and runs. Catelyn watches him go and lets out her breath in a big sigh. Robb flops down to sit in the snow, legs splayed, staring morosely in the direction Jon had left. He looks up at his mother with a resentful stare.